Chapter 61: Cao Cao Receives the Imperial Edict

  May 7th, Guangxu year.

  A violent riot broke out within the Nanyang Yellow Turban rebels, and the rebel leaders Zhang Mancheng and Zhao Hong died in the chaos. The generals under their command unanimously elected Han Zhong as their leader, who continued to lead the army to attack cities and plunder grain and money.

  Han Zhong was also generous and after becoming the Grand Commander-in-chief, he immediately enfeoffed his generals, all those who supported him were made generals.

  For Cao Ren, who was the first to come forward and strongly recommended him as the Grand Marshal, Han Zhong also actively pulled strings.

  With Han Zhong's support, Zhou Wu smoothly absorbed Zhao Hong's troops and his army grew to nearly 60,000.

  Of course, these 600,000 'great army' are all a mob, more than half of them are old, weak, women and children, with no fighting power.

  After Zhou Wu absorbed Zhao Hong's troops, he immediately selected 20,000 strong and sturdy men from among them to form an army, training day and night. The remaining elderly, women and children could not be settled for the time being, so they were all formed into a logistics battalion, only doing labor work.

  Less than 60,000 cavalrymen, but nearly 30,000 logistics soldiers.

  Such an disproportionate army is also rare in history.

  Just as Zhou Wu was actively preparing his troops, after the imperial court's grain and fodder arrived, Huangfu Song and Zhu Huan's armies also prepared to march west, planning to quell the Nan Yang rebels first before heading north to Yan Province to defeat the Yellow Turbans.

  However, before the army set out, the emperor's edict arrived.

  In April of the seventh year of Guangwu, the leader of the Yellow Turbans in the east of Yanzhou, Bu Shi, led tens of thousands of people to rebel. After breaking through Dong'a and crossing the river to the west, they successively broke through Yangping and Dongwuyang within half a month, and Puyang was in danger.

  Just as Huangfu Song and Zhu Zhi successively defeated the Yellow Turban rebels in the line of Yingchuan, Chen State and Runan.

  Emperor Ling of Han, upon hearing the news, immediately issued an edict ordering Huangfu Song to lead his troops northwards to attack Bo Cai's rebel army, while Zhu Hui continued to lead his main force westwards to conquer Nanyang and suppress the rebels there.

  Chinese military commander's tent.

  The eunuch who came to deliver the imperial edict finished reading the first edict, and then glanced at Cao Cao, who was second in line on the right, and said with a fake smile: "General Cao, there is another edict here, don't you want to receive it?"

  The generals under his command also looked at each other in dismay and glanced at him sideways.

  "This..."

  Cao Cao was taken aback for a moment, wondering how the Emperor would issue an imperial edict to himself. However, he quickly regained his composure and hastily stepped forward, kneeling down with his forehead touching the ground, saying in a loud voice: "Your subject, Cavalry Commandant Cao Cao, receives the edict!"

  The imperial edict of the Great Han Emperor reads: "Cao Cao, the Cavalry Commandant, is well-versed in strategy and has achieved numerous victories in battles against the Yellow Turban rebels. Now that there are many bandits causing trouble in Ji'nan State, we hereby appoint Cao Cao as the Governor of Ji'nan State. He shall set out immediately to take up his post, quickly quell the bandit uprising, govern the people with justice, and stabilize the state territory. There must be no mistakes."

  Your humble servant obeys your order and respectfully wishes our Emperor a long life of thousands of autumns and ten thousand years, with the country's fortune flourishing.

  Cao Cao hastily led the way, kneeled down to receive the imperial edict, but was greatly surprised in his heart and couldn't understand why the Yellow Turbans had not been pacified yet, but the court's order had already come down. However, he soon thought of a reason, fearing that his father was active in the court.

  But this is a good thing.

  Jinan Guoxiang has the same rank as the county governor, and although the riding attendant is of the same rank as the county governor, their status is slightly different.

  Being a county governor is much more glorious than being a riding aide under someone else's command, and the power is also much greater.

  "Congratulations, Lord Cao, felicitations, Lord Cao."

  The various generals under Cao's command heard of Cao Ren's promotion and many showed envy in their eyes.

  Zhou Jian's eyes flashed with a hint of coldness, and he thought of some reasons. He secretly thought that there were people in the imperial court who were really good at being officials, but the Yellow Turban rebels had not been pacified yet, and Cao A'Duan was already appointed as a high-ranking official in a distant region.

  In comparison, I was slightly lagging behind.

  But unfortunately, who made oneself have no old dad in the imperial court as a great minister of agriculture with quite some real power.

  Although his grandfather Zhou Jing Zeng held the position of San Gong, that was already in the past. As the saying goes, "when a person leaves, the tea becomes cold". Although the Zhou family still had some connections in the imperial court, they were far from being as prominent as when they were in power.

  Even Cao Ang and Cao Anmin were able to rise through the ranks so quickly, with four generations of their family holding high-ranking positions. The Yuan clan, whose former subordinates filled the land, was even more powerful.

  No wonder even a mediocre person like Yuan Shu could dominate a region and become an emperor. Although he didn't enjoy his reign for long, he still managed to ascend the throne, while Sun Ce of Jiangdong and the heroic Liu Bei were left struggling.

  Huangfu Song sighed and said: "Meng De now has another appointment, so hurry up and set off to take office, lest you miss the journey."

  Cao Cao hastily paid his respects to Huangfu Song and said, "Now that the Yellow Turban rebellion has not yet been quelled, I originally wanted to serve under your command, General, in order to repay my country and bring peace to the people. However, there was an imperial decree, and I dare not disobey it. I hope you will take care of yourself, General. I bid you farewell."

  Huangfu Song raised his hand and said: "Meng De, slow down, I won't see you off for much longer."

  Cao Cao then said to Zhou Yu: "General Zhou, your talent is unparalleled in the world. My association with you is like that of Zi Xia and Bo Ya! Originally, I wanted to conquer the Yellow Turbans and return to the court, and then drink with you until we were drunk. But now, I have received an imperial order and must go to Jinan to take up my post. Another day, if there is an opportunity, I will discuss with you the bond between us as sworn brothers, and fulfill my wish."

  Zhou Jian also returned the courtesy: "As you wish, General, take care on your journey."

  Cao Cao then bid farewell to all the generals under his tent, and only then did he leave the tent.

  Huangfu Song led his generals out of the account and all the way to the outside of the large camp, only then did he stop and look around.

  Zhou Jian gazed at Cao Cao's receding back, though his chest seethed with murderous intent, he couldn't help but admit that Cao Cao possessed an air and personal charm that ordinary people couldn't match; if it were a peaceful and prosperous era, the two would likely have become friends.

  However, as turbulent times approach, in order to achieve their respective ideals and goals, the two will eventually become enemies.

  In the dead of night, Zhou Jian's military tent.

  The lamp sways, and the cold seeps into one's bones.

  Zhou Jian paced back and forth in his tent with his hands clasped behind his back, as if he had a difficult problem that he couldn't make up his mind about.

  Ten attendants stood in the tent, their eyes following Zhou Jian as he paced back and forth.

  Dian Wei, Xu Chu, Jiang Qin and other generals also stood in the tent, their mouths sealed and speechless.

  Zhou Jian paced back and forth for a while, suddenly stopped in his tracks, and said in a low voice: "Zhou Sheng."

  Zhou Sheng stepped forward and said, "I am at your service."

  Zhou Jian said: "Rush to Nanyang overnight, let Zhou Wu leave Wan city before Zhu Yan's army arrives in Nanyang. The chaotic army under his command must preserve its strength as much as possible. First, retreat into the mountains and forests to become bandits, waiting for a later plan. But remember, absolutely do not reveal your identity."

  "Should we kill Qin Bian, the governor of Nanyang?" Zhou Sheng hesitated.

  Zhou Jian said in a deep voice, "Qin Hui is hiding in Zhu Yan's large army, how can he be killed? Although the Nan Yang rebel army has more than 1 million soldiers, even if Zhu Yan cannot attack Nan Yang for the time being, once Huangfu Song's army defeats the Bo Yi rebel army and Zhang Jiao also loses, the imperial court will definitely dispatch a large army to suppress the Nan Yang rebel army. At that time, even if you want to escape, you won't be able to."

  Zhou Shengdao said: "Understood, I will go to Nanyang now."

  Zhou Jian nodded and said, "Go quickly, remember to avoid Zhu Yun's army, take the small road to get there."

  "Let subordinates know."

  Zhou Sheng accepted the order and immediately rushed out of the account.

  Zhou Jian swept his gaze over the people below, and suddenly a fierce killing intent flashed in his eyes. He said in a condensed voice: "Tonight is not our army's turn to stand guard. I will sneak out tonight to kill them. You can follow me."

  Dian Wei and Xu Chu were expressionless, not surprised in the slightest.

  Nine attendants also had calm faces and no reaction.

  Jiang Qin hesitated and said, "Leaving the central army without permission is a serious crime. Moreover, Cao Cao has already left for two hours, even if we ride fast horses to chase him, it's hard to catch up, let alone return by tomorrow's fifth watch. Besides, Cao Cao still has over a hundred soldiers with him, even if we catch up, it's not necessarily possible to kill them all, and if one escapes, the consequences will be severe."

  Zhou Jian's mouth curled up in a sly smile, saying: "General Cao need not worry, I have already ordered my attendants to investigate Cao Cao's movements. Cao Cao set out late in the day and did not rush through the night, but instead stayed overnight at Xihua Pavilion. Xihua Pavilion is less than 100 miles from here, if everything goes smoothly, we can return to the army before dawn tomorrow."

  He paused, then said calmly: "As for killing Cao Cao, it's not a difficult task. Other generals may not guarantee it, but I have confidence in killing him, as long as Dian Wei and Xu Chu block Xiahou Dun, I have 100% confidence to kill Cao Cao."

  "Since it's like this, I also don't have anything good to say."

  Zhou Jian was about to give the order to set out overnight, when a personal guard came to report, "General, Huangfu Song's army has summoned you to the central command tent to discuss military affairs."

  "This..."

  Zhou Jian was taken aback and almost burst out in a loud scolding.

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